A Hidden Queen

Chapter 6

Josephine moves her head back and forth. Her nose crinkles up as something tickles it. Josephine relaxes her body. It is way too early to be getting up. She sighs to herself. Her eyes squeeze shut as the silence once again makes it difficult to sleep. It's within that silence that she hears soft shuffling noises. Joe tenses, her mind fully awake and calculating. She listens as the noise becomes louder and nearer. Someone, or something, was approaching. Josephine stills her body as it becomes increasingly taunt ready to pounce. She doesn't open her eyes as the shuffling suddenly stops on her right side. The edge of the bed dips, alerting her to someone leaning over her. Josephine's body reacts before she can assess the situation fully. Her hand shots out, taking a firm hold of the object that is nearest her. A gasp cuts through the air as Joe twists the firm object.

Joe's breathing increases as her eyes being to focus. She glances down at the outstretched arm and the wrist that is in her death-like vice. A small tug is felt, forcing Josephine's eyes to look up. It was a woman. From her outfit, Joe can tell she is a servant or a house maid. The maid grimaces, pulling on her arm once again trying to loosen the noticeably tight grip. Joe's eyes widen a little as she sees all the fear and panic that fills the maid's brown eyes. She quickly releases the woman's wrist, allowing the maid to bring the wrist close to her chest, rubbing it gently.

"Sorry." Joe mutters, cringing slightly at the redness. "What do you want?"

"Master." She stutters out before taking a breath, "Your grandfather would like you to come down for breakfast Miss."

Joe nods, clearing her throat, "Alright. I'll be down in a few."

"I'm sorry Miss. Carter, but the Governor has asked me to escort you downstairs."

Joe sighs, "Very well. But can you wait outside the door while I rearrange myself?"

"Yes Miss. Carter, of course." She agrees, walking out of the room.

Joe sighs, rubbing her hand down her face. She swings her legs over the bed, staring down at the floor. If she was being completely honest with herself, she didn't want to do any of this today. She just did not have the energy or the want to fight with her grandfather. But, if she wanted the chance to see her father, she was going to have to suck it up and endure. Another sigh leaves her body as she grabs her boots, slipping them over her feet. She stands tucking her shirt into her pants. She runs her fingers through her hair, loosening the tangles as she went. The young woman stops in the doorway of the room.

"Led the way." She instructs to the maid.

The maid smiles politely, leading the way down the winding staircase. Joe had never taken the time yesterday to really study the house she had been ushered through so quickly. Her eyes widen at the vast space. The ceiling reached far beyond her head. A crystal chandelier hung even with the top of the second floor. The stairs twisted around it as they descended to the main floor. The walls were a pale cream color, different portraits and painting hanging on them. Josephine spins herself around in the middle of the room once she hits the bottom of the stairs. She can only see three other rooms from her spot and a long hallway down the back of the house. But each of those were spacious beyond human comparison.

"This way Miss. Carter." The servant says, gesturing towards her right.

Josephine snaps her attention over, taking one last spin around the room. She stumbles her way over to the maid following her through an archway and into the dining room. She pauses as the maid holds out her hand, gesturing her towards the table. Joe's eyes go to the head of the table where her grandfather was sitting. He lowers his newspaper, sending her a pleasantly fake smile.

"Come in. Come in Josephine. Have a seat and eat your breakfast." Smithen ushers.

Josephine sighs, something she seems to be doing a lot here lately. She draws her shoulders back, holding her head up high. She moves past the maid, making her way up to the head of the table. Josephine notices that the table was long and oval shaped. It could easily hold twenty people comfortably while eating a meal. The wood was a deep red color and it shone brightly with new polish. Her fingers run over the smooth surface. She had never seen something so expensive looking before. She snaps her head over to her grandfather as he clears his throat. Her eyes drift over to a male servant who has her chair pulled out for her. Josephine smiles sheepishly, flopping herself down into the chair. Her stomach growls loudly as a plate of eggs and fruit is set down in-front of her. Her mouth waters as the smells fills her nostrils and lungs. She grabs the fork, digging into it with a vengeance. She could not help the moan that slips up; all the different flavors hanging on her taste buds.

"You eat worse than a starving dog Josephine." Smithen remarks, his eyes lingering on her.

"They don't feed you much in the jail." She says around mouthfuls. "And when they do, it's nothing like this."

Smithen sighs, "I am truly sorry you had to endure that, Josephine. But" He starts, folding his paper and setting it on the table. "Did you not agree last night to not fight me on my requests?"

"And what am I fighting on?" Josephine asks, truly curious as to what she has done now.

"Those clothes for starters. And I can tell by your smell alone that you did not wash up as I asked you to last night."

Joe huffs, "For one those are minor things. And for two. Well, I said that I wouldn't fight if I could see my father. Your word means nothing to me; therefore, my corporation will not begin until I lay eyes on him and talk to him."

"That seems a bit like a rewrite of what was agreed upon."

"No, not a rewrite. Not even an amend. It is simply a lack of trust that you will keep your word. I figured this way I will be guaranteed to see my father and you will be guaranteed my corporation."

Smithen smirks, "You certainly are a clever one, my dear granddaughter."

Josephine smiles shyly at her grandfather. He shakes his head, crisping his paper as he brought it up to continue reading it. Josephine glances up as a servant step forward, setting her grandfather's own plate of food down. Her eyes drift upwards noticing that the man had a white bandage over his nose. Angry bruises traveled down and across his cheek under his eyes. It was the servant that she had kicked last night. Joe grimaces, giving an apologetic grin. He glared at her, turning his nose away as he made his way back to the kitchen. Joe sighs, turning her attention to her grandfather as he ate his own breakfast. He certainly had more manners than she had. He sat straight back in his chair and all his limbs were off the tabletop. He gently forked his food into his mouth instead of shoveling it in as she had done. She sighs, digging her elbow into the wooden surface as her chin rests in her hand.

"So, when do I officially go see my father?" She inquires, stuffing a piece of fruit in her mouth.

"Well young lady I guess that depends on how well your table manners are. Which needs to be added to our list of things to fix promptly." He snubs, setting down his glass of water. Josephine rolls her eyes, earning a sly smile from Smithen. "No. We will go after you have finished eating and after you have freshened up a bit."

Joe shakes her head, "No need to freshen up. I'm ready to leave now if you are."

Smithen balks, "Surely you are not going to go dressed like that? What if someone sees you?"

"What's the matter, Smithen? Afraid someone is going to connect you to me?" Joe smirks.

"With the way you dress and smell, yes."

Joe laughs, "Get over yourself, Smithen. We are going to a jail not a formal ball. My clothes and the way I smell is fine for where we are going. Now come on. I don't wanna be late in seeing him."

"Want to. I do not want to be late. I swear child, your speech and grammar are going to be the next thing we work on as well."

Josephine rolls her eyes. It appears that his words last night were true. She was an experiment. A means to see if they could take a young pirate girl and reform her into a proper English woman. Josephine had to admit that she could not say that they wouldn't succeed. She has seen many people change and adapt to the environment that they were thrusted into; she would be no different. Joe shoves that thought to the back of her mind. She just needs to make sure that she finds a way off this island before that happens. She wipes her mouth, setting it down on her empty plate. She pushes her chair back, rising to her feet, more than ready to get on with her day.

"Sit back down. We are not rushing out of here right this second." Smithen gestures with his fork.

"You're wasting time."

"No. You're wasting food. I have not eaten my breakfast and I will not be rushed to do so. So, sit yourself back down in that chair and be patient."

Josephine narrows her eyes at her grandfather. He raises an eyebrow up at her sternly, expecting to be obeyed. Joe folds her arms across her chest, taking a determined stance. Smithen sighs agitatedly, setting his fork down with an aggressive clunk as metal hit porcelain. He wipes his hands combatively, throwing his napkin on the table. He stands, waving her off towards the door. Joe grins smugly, turning on her heels and making haste to the door. Smithen massages his temples, falling into step with his wayward granddaughter.